The 1490 NewsBlog

Monday, January 28, 2013

Bill Honors Potter County Soldiers Who Died in Vietnam

HARRISBURG – Three Potter County bridges will be named to honor area Vietnam veterans under legislation introduced by Rep. Martin Causer (R-Turtlepoint).

Under House Bill 293, the bridge carrying State Route 49 over the Cowanesque Creek in Harrison Valley will be designated the Specialist Kenneth Wayne Lampman Sr. Memorial Bridge. The bridge carrying State Route 44 over the Oswayo Creek in Shinglehouse Borough will be named the Specialist Gerald Duane Stonemetz Memorial Bridge. And the bridge carrying State Route 1022 over Pine Creek in Galeton Borough will be designated the Private First Class Clark Robert Douglas Memorial Bridge.

“These men made the ultimate sacrifice for our country, and it is important that we remember their service,” Causer said. “Naming these bridges in their honor will serve as a reminder to all of us to pay tribute to these veterans and to everyone who has served or is continuing to serve our country.”

Lampman, a resident of Harrison Valley, served the U.S. Army as an aircraft maintenance mechanic with the 1st Cavalry Division. He was killed on March 5, 1967, when his helicopter crashed in Vietnam. He was 21 years old.

Stonemetz of Shinglehouse served in the U.S. Army and died in a vehicle crash in Vietnam on Jan. 8, 1969, at the age of 21. He was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign Ribbon and Marksman Badge with rifle bar.

Douglas of Galeton was a U.S. Army medic with the 1st Air Calvary Division Charlie Company. He was killed while administering aid to a wounded soldier on Nov. 11, 1969, and posthumously was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross. He was 21 years old.

Causer previously authored legislation, signed into law last year, making additional bridge designations in honor of the county’s Vietnam veterans. Under the law, the bridge carrying State Route 607 over Freeman Run in Austin Borough was designated as the Captain Edgar E. Nuschke Memorial Bridge, and the bridge carrying State Route 872 over the east fork of Sinnemahoning Creek in Wharton Township was named the Private First Class Edward Ritsick Memorial Bridge.

House Bill 293 was referred to the House Transportation Committee for consideration.